PARENTS could be paid to get their children to cycle to school rather than take the bus under new plans to help tackle obesity.

The Government has said the proposals will improve school transport, cut congestion and encourage children to lead more active lives.

The news comes days after figures revealed a quarter of four and five-year-olds in Bolton and almost 30 per cent of 10 and 11-year-olds are were obese or overweight.

In the Government's guidance to councils piloting new transport schemes it said: "Walking and cycling are likely to improve the health of those travelling on foot or by bicycle, and may well bring environmental benefits from reduced levels of congestion and pollution."

The guidance has suggested that "a number of allowances and other arrangements" could be used by councils to meet their responsibilities to provide school transport.

Examples include a cycling allowance paid by the coucil where the parent agreed for their child to cycle to and from school instead of using a bus.

Margaret Morrissey, of the National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations, raised concerns over the safety implications of the scheme.

"The safety issue is the real difficulty of allowing children to cycle," she said.

"If we are to encourage this, we have to educate motorists to be aware. And taxpayers will probably be uncomfortable with paying parents to get children to school."

What do you think? Would payment persuade you to get your child to cycle to school? Vote in the Editor's Choice Column on the right of this page.